Whether in the public sector or private companies, it is not uncommon for former secretaries to heads of organizations to thrive within their organizations. The situation is no different in Seoul City or its 25 autonomous districts.
On the first day of Mayor Oh Se-hoon's comeback after 10 years, the person who greeted him in front of the first floor of City Hall was Jeong Sang-hoon, the current Chief of the Planning and Coordination Office. Chief Jeong is a former secretary to Mayor Oh. He served as the Mayor’s Chief Secretary, Administrative Director, and Welfare Director before being appointed as the Chief of the Planning and Coordination Office last month. He is praised for his excellent work ability and drive.
Jeong is close friends with Lee Dong-ryul, the Administrative Director, who is also a classmate from the third local civil service exam. Lee, who previously served as spokesperson, is now a long-serving Administrative Director. Other former secretaries to Mayor Oh include Park Jin-young, Head of the Future Hangang Headquarters; Gu Jong-won, Director of the Tourism and Sports Bureau; and Kwak Jong-bin, Chief Secretary. All of them passed the administrative civil service exam.
Park Jin-young was recommended earlier this year for the position of Deputy Mayor of Seocho District, but Mayor Oh chose not to send him there and instead appointed him to the important role of Head of the Future Hangang Headquarters, showing great trust.
Gu Jong-won, Director of the Tourism and Sports Bureau, graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Political Science and passed the administrative civil service exam. He has held key positions such as Head of Traffic Policy, Traffic Planning Officer, and Director of Lifelong Education. Notably, during his tenure as Director of Lifelong Education, he successfully established ‘Seoul Run,’ which is credited with creating opportunities for upward mobility for youth from disadvantaged families.
Kwak Jong-bin, Chief Secretary, is a graduate of the University of Seoul and was the last secretary to Mayor Oh before his resignation over the free school meals issue.
There are also many cases of former secretaries thriving in Seoul’s autonomous districts. For example, Lee Dong-ho, a former longest-serving secretary to the Gangnam District Mayor, transformed into the Chairperson of the Gangnam District Council’s Operations Committee.
Other key officials include Son Yong-jun, Head of the Job Economy Division in Seocho District; Jo In-dong, Head of the Planning and Budget Division in Seongdong District; Kim Myung-hoon, Head of the Youth Division in Geumcheon District; Min Chang-sik, Head of the Public Relations and Policy Division in Dobong District; and Park Sang-jin and Kim Young-shin, division heads in Dongdaemun District.
The reason former secretaries are doing well in Seoul City and its districts is believed to be because they have learned not only work skills but also political acumen by closely assisting mayors or district heads.
A senior Seoul City official said, “Former secretaries are fundamentally diligent and have excellent work abilities, which is why they seem to be entrusted with important roles.”
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